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Oxygen momentum

Started by COYspurs
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COYspurs

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In a bottle, hydrogen will have a greater velocity than oxygen, but will oxygen travel with a greater momentum?

Thanks.
 
Let's see.

In a bottle, hydrogen gas and oxygen gas molecules should have the same average kinetic energy (KE)

aceez9.gif


where p = momentum, m = mass of a gas molecule, and v = (rms) velocity.

Since the average kinetic energies should be equal for H and O:

27ya72p.gif


the sub O's and H's stand for oxygen and hydrogen.

The 2's cancel out.

Also, oxygen gas has a mass of 32 amu. Hydrogen gas has a mass of 2 amu. Thus,


25tg6tt.gif


The momentum of oxygen gas is on average 1/4 of that of hydrogen gas (if my calculations are correct).
 
Let's see.

In a bottle, hydrogen gas and oxygen gas molecules should have the same average kinetic energy (KE)

aceez9.gif


where p = momentum, m = mass of a gas molecule, and v = (rms) velocity.

Since the average kinetic energies should be equal for H and O:

27ya72p.gif


the sub O's and H's stand for oxygen and hydrogen.

The 2's cancel out.

Also, oxygen gas has a mass of 32 amu. Hydrogen gas has a mass of 2 amu. Thus,


25tg6tt.gif


The momentum of oxygen gas is on average 1/4 of that of hydrogen gas (if my calculations are correct).
I think he meant the momentum of Hydrogen is 1/4 the momentum of oxygen
 
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Shouldn' it be 4pH by your last step?

It's my understanding heavier gas molecules always carry more momentum at equal kinetic energy.
Yes.


There is no need for long calculations. Just keep in mind that p = 2* Ke/ v
Since gases at same temperature always have same Ke, the gas with the lower velocity will have higher momentum; thus the heavier gas has more momentum.